Chapter 34
A few moons passed and Thunderclan had seemed to learn their lesson about kit thievery. It was a good thing too because Ivyshine was expecting and Dawncloud had recently given birth to Blossomkit and Swampkit. The two were energetic balls of fluff that never seemed to stop moving. Blossomkit was white with yellow eyes, while Swampkit was ginger and white, with leaf-green eyes. They were disappointed that Branchtail's kits were going to be made apprentices today, but they would soon have new companions in the form of Deerfoot's and Ivyshine's kits.
Branchtail and Tangleburr stood before their kits as they stood side-by-side in their last moments in the nursery. Their daughters' pelts were freshly groomed and their eyes were gleaming with excitement and they shifted restlessly. Branchtail had thought this day had come far too soon and by the glistening in Tangleburr's eyes, Branchtail could tell that she thought the same thing.
Today was the day that their daughters shed their status as kits and took their place as apprentices in the clan. It wouldn't be too long before Raggedstar called the clan meeting. He and Yellowfang were just as proud of their son's kits.
"We're so proud of you," Tangleburr purred.
"Thanks," Stormkit purred.
"Try not to give your mentors too much trouble," Branchtail teased.
"What?!" Pricklekit exclaimed, her green eyes wide with mock surprise, "Us? Never!"
"Yeah sure," Branchtail purred, flicking her ear with his tail.
The familiar yowl reached the ears of the family. There was silence for a moment. "Well this is it," Branchtail said finally.
Tangleburr gave Branchtail a brief, significant look. Their daughters' apprentice ceremonies weren't the only important event today.
Their daughters lead the way out of the nursery, their chins held high as they tried to hide the nervousness they were surely feeling. Rosekit gave the nursery a quick glance over her shoulder. She ducked her head in embarrassment as she met her parents' gazes.
"I don't know why she feels embarrassed," Tangleburr murmured, "It's quite natural for her to be missing the nursery."
Branchtail was saved from answering by the gathering of their clanmates in the clearing. As soon as every cat had settled, Raggedstar began to speak.
"Today," Raggedstar said proudly, "We come together to make three kits apprentices."
He paused for a moment to look fondly on his son's kits. "Come forward," he said.
Branchtail watched proudly as his three daughters stepped forward to be at the bottom of the rock. He scanned he crowd, wondering which warriors were picked to mentor his kits.
"Rosepaw," Rosepaw's amber eyes widen at the sound of her new name, "Your mentor will be Newtspeck."
Rosepaw nervously turned to see the ginger and black she-cat approaching her. The two touched noses.
"Pricklepaw," Raggedstar continued, "Your mentor will be Nutwhisker."
Pricklepaw didn't look as nervous as Rosepaw had, because Nutwhisker was their kin. His eyes were warm as he approached her. She happily touched noses with him.
And last but not least... "Stormpaw," Raggedstar said, "Rowanberry will be your mentor."
Stormpaw trotted over to where Rowanberry was approaching and touched noses with her.
"Rosepaw! Pricklepaw! Stormpaw!" the clan cheered.
"They'll be a pawful, for sure," Ivyshine puffed. Her stomach was so round now that even speaking was taking a significant effort. She was due any day now.
"Definitely," Tangleburr purred.
"And one last thing," Raggedstar said, not dismissing the meeting as would be customary. Amberleaf got to her paws and looked at him expectantly. Branchtail and Tangleburr glanced at each other.
"Amberleaf," Raggedstar said, giving the ginger she-cat a nod of acknowledgement, "You have served the clan well for several moons. Is it your wish to retire and take your place with the elders?"
Amberleaf nodded. "Yes, Raggedstar," she said, "It is."
"Then I grant you many seasons of rest. Starclan honors you for your many moons of dedicated service to Shadowclan," Raggedstar said.
Amberleaf drew back to stand with the throng of elders. Branchtail took a deep breath, bracing himself for Raggedstar's next words.
"Now, Shadowclan needs a new deputy," Raggedstar announced, "Before Amberleaf and the spirits of our ancestors, I name Shadowclan's new deputy. Branchtail, will you do me the honor of being my deputy?"
The crowd parted around him as he came forward. "I will, Raggedstar," he said. Then he turned to face Shadowclan. "I will serve Shadowclan the very best that I can," he vowed.
"Branchtail! Branchtail!" the clan called.
"Did you know?" Rosepaw exclaimed as she and her sisters swarmed him.
"Yes," Branchtail purred.
"Why didn't you tell us?!" Stormpaw demanded.
"I wanted it to be a surprise," Branchtail replied.
"Well it certainly was!" Pricklepaw said indignantly.
"Well, he couldn't very well tell you, now could he?" Tangleburr added, whisking her tail over Pricklepaw's ear.
"No, he couldn't," Rosepaw said.
A call came from the other side of the clearing, and Branchtail could see his daughters' mentors waiting. He gave Stormpaw a nudge. "You three better go, your mentors are waiting," he said.
"We finally get to see the territory!" Rosepaw squealed.
"Well, technically that's not tr-" Branchtail stopped as Tangleburr swept her tail across his mouth. He spat out her tail and gave a her a resentful look through narrowed eyes.
"We'll see you later!" Stormpaw said, over her shoulder as the three scampered to their mentors.
"And there they go," Branchtail said, as he watched them and their mentors disappear through the brambles.
"It seemed like yesterday they were newborns, huh," Tangleburr murmured.
"Yeah," Branchtail agreed, picturing them in his mind.
"Makes me feel old!" Tangleburr joked.
"Nah," Branchtail scoffed, "You're not old. You've got plenty of seasons left in you yet."
"Although, I do see some gray furs," Branchtail added, his eyes glinting mischievously.
Tangleburr gave him a swat with her forepaw. "That's because my pelt has gray, mouse-brain," she rolled her eyes.
They sat in silence, enjoying the weak rays of early newleaf. "Do you think we'll have more?" Tangleburr asked, turning to look at him.
Branchtail was abruptly jerked from his revere. "More what?" he asked.
"Kits," Tangleburr replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"I mean, I don't see why we wouldn't," Branchtail replied, kind of at a loss at what to say.
"Good," Tangleburr said. And that was the end of that.
The next day was the regularly scheduled meeting with Aspen, or rather, Aspenleap as she was now called. She had chosen her name for her sister Snowleap, and their father Harley had no idea. Harley had no idea that his other daughter was alive and well in Shadowclan. For all he knew, she had bled out that day he had killed her mother.
And hopefully, it would stay that way, Branchtail mused as he followed his father and Snowleap into the night. He didn't want to imagine what Harley would do if he ever discovered that Snowleap was still alive.
Soon after, the trio made their way to the border and settled themselves near the Thunderpath to wait. Branchtail tried not to wince as monsters roared past. Raggedstar and Snowleap seem unperturbed and sat in silence.
After a few moments, there was a rustling beyond the Thunderpath. All three cats got to their paws, on high alert. A familiar shape emerged from the bracken, and stepped into the moonlight and looked around nervously. Branchtail could see her heave a sigh of relief as she saw them.
After the next monster passed by, Aspenleap hurled herself across the Thunderpath. She skidded to a halt, her flanks heaving as she panted. "It's so good to see you!" Snowleap purred. She bounded over to her sister and fondly touched noses with her.
"Aspenleap, I trust you are well?" Raggedstar asked.
"I am," Aspenleap's eyes were troubled, "But I don't think you'll like what I have to say."
Branchtail felt a feeling of foreboding wash over him. "And that is?" he asked.
"I know it has something to do with Windclan," she mewed, "But I don't know more than that. Thistlestar has only confided in Tigerclaw and Harley about it. Harley won't even tell me; that's how I know it has to be serious."
"Could they be planning an attack?" Raggedstar asked seriously.
Aspenleap shook her head. "No," she said, "I think it must be much more than that. After all, I don't think they'll try to just attack another clan again. We were defeated by Riverclan a half-moon ago we we tried to invade them."
For the first time, Branchtail noticed the fresh scar that parted the fur on her shoulders.
"Have they mentioned anything about Shadowclan?" Raggedstar asked.
Aspenleap looked amused. "Only to gripe and complain about you," she purred, "But other than that, no."
Raggedstar relaxed. "Thank you, Aspenleap," he said, "We'll see you in a moon. And we'll be sure to keep a close eye on Windclan. May Starclan light your path."
"And yours," Aspenleap replied.
She touched noses fondly one last time with her sister before turning to sprint across the Thunderpath. The Shadowclan cats watched as she disappeared into the undergrowth.
"We'll have to patrol the border with Windclan very closely from now on," Raggedstar said as they began walking back.
"Shouldn't we warn them?" Snowleap asked.
"No, because how would we explain ourselves?" Raggedstar replied.
"I see where you are coming from, but I still don't like it," Snowleap said.
"I know you don't," Raggedstar replied, "But it's for the good of the clan."
Snowleap dipped her head in defeat. "I know," she sighed.
"Cheer up Snowleap," Branchtail encouraged, "We know now that they're planning something so we can be one step ahead."
"I suppose you're right," Snowleap conceded.
The three slipped into camp silently. Most of the clan were in their den, with the exception of the returning moonhigh patrol and Deerfoot, who was standing watch near the entrance. He nodded respectfully at them. "Goodnight," Raggedstar said to Branchtail and Snowleap.
"Goodnight," they replied.
"Ugh, I forgot that I promised to patrol with Yellowfang towards Windclan tomorrow morning," Raggedstar yawned, "I'm going to be functioning on very little sleep."
Each turned and went to their respective dens. Branchtail first went to the apprentices' den and looked in on his sleeping daughters. Moonlight filtered into the den as Branchtail peered in, making their fur appear almost silver, especially Stormpaw's. Each of them were curled in their nests fast asleep. Carefully, Branchtail went in and gave each of them a gentle lick between the ears, trying not to wake them.
He slipped out of their den and made his way back to his own den. He carefully made his way past his slumbering clanmates to the nest he shared with Tangleburr. His beloved was currently fast asleep, her tail tucked over her nose. Branchtail stepped into the mossy nest and curled beside her. Within moments, he was asleep.